Effective May 1, 2014, the FSW will be accepting an overall total of 25,000 new applications. Applicants must have at least one year of work experience in one of 50 eligible occupations. A maximum of 1,000 applications will be accepted per eligible occupation. The eligible occupations include many widely practiced professions. They are as follows:
- Senior managers – financial, communications and other business services (NOC 0013)
- Senior managers – trade, broadcasting and other services, n.e.c. (0015)
- Financial managers (0111)
- Human resources managers (0112)
- Purchasing managers (0113)
- Insurance, real estate and financial brokerage managers (0121)
- Managers in health care (0311)
- Construction managers (0711)
- Home building and renovation managers (0712)
- Managers in natural resources production and fishing (0811)
- Manufacturing managers (0911)
- Financial auditors and accountants (1111)
- Financial and investment analysts (1112)
- Securities agents, investment dealers and brokers (1113)
- Other financial officers (1114)
- Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations (1123)
- Supervisors, finance and insurance office workers (1212)
- Property administrators (1224)
- Geoscientists and oceanographers (2113)
- Civil engineers (2131)
- Mechanical engineers (2132)
- Electrical and electronics engineers (2133)
- Petroleum engineers (2145)
- Information systems analysts and consultants (2171)
- Database analysts and data administrators (2172)
- Software engineers and designers (2173)
- Computer programmers and interactive media developers (2174)
- Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians (2232)
- Construction estimators (2234)
- Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians (2241)
- Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics (2243)
- Inspectors in public and environmental health and occupational health and safety (2263)
- Computer network technicians (2281)
- Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors (3011)
- Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (3012)
- Specialist physicians (3111)
- General practitioners and family physicians (3112)
- Dietitians and nutritionists (3132)
- Audiologists and speech-language pathologists (3141)
- Physiotherapists (3142)
- Occupational therapists (3143)
- Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists (3214)
- Medical radiation technologists (3215)
- Medical sonographers (3216)
- Licensed practical nurses (3233)
- Paramedical occupations (3234)
- University professors and lecturers (4011)
- Psychologists (4151)
- Early childhood educators and assistants (4214)
- Translators, terminologists and interpreters (5125)
Applicants under the FSW program will be assessed according to the same criteria as 2013. Applicants are assessed on a points grid that takes into account important factors such as education, language skills, work experience, age, and adaptability to Canada. All applicants must meet minimum language requirements in either English or French.
In addition to skilled workers, the FSW program includes streams for Ph.D. holders and individuals who have received eligible job offers from Canadian employers. A maximum of 500 Ph.D. applicants will be accepted under the upcoming program. Applicants who hold valid job offers are not subject to any intake caps.